Washington, DC Selected as Finalist in U.S. Bid Process for The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Washington, DC — Washington 2024, the nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Washington, DC Capital Region, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Olympic Committee’s decision to include Washington as a finalist in the U.S. bid process:

“We want to thank the U.S. Olympic Committee for their decision to include Washington in the final round of U.S. cities under consideration for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Russ Ramsey, chairman of Washington 2024. “We fully support USOC’s effort to build a truly national bid that will garner global support, and we have no doubt that we can stand shoulder to shoulder with other world class cities in the U.S. and around the globe to build the best Games in history.”

“This is the beginning of our community’s effort to bring the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games to the Capital Region,” said Ramsey. “The area is one of the most diverse, fastest growing and dynamic regions in the world. Washington, Maryland and Virginia combined represent three of the most dynamic economies in the U.S. We look forward to bringing together community, business and government leaders from across the region to build the best Olympic Games in history—that will leave the most positive, lasting legacy since London 2012. An Olympic Games hosted in our nation’s capital would inspire American youth for generations to become active and get engaged in sport.”

“In recent years, Washington has become one of the most international, vibrant, global cities in America,” said Ramsey. “We have more state-of-the-art sports infrastructure than any other U.S. city, three international airports, hotels, museums, embassies from around the globe, 170 languages spoken, world-class security and transportation and yet Washington is an accommodating, fun, friendly and liveable city where Olympic athletes and their families will have the best Olympic experience possible. We have no doubt that spending the next decade imbuing the Olympic spirit into every corner of Washington, DC will have a lasting, unifying impact on our city, our country and on the world.”

“This is about how investments will accelerate existing development plans for Washington, Virginia and Maryland to create a permanent legacy of affordable housing, employment, transportation and environmental improvements in our neighborhoods,” said Ted Leonsis, vice chair of Washington 2024. “It is also about the Washington region building the most transparent, greenest, most wired and most athlete-centric Games in history. And it is about bringing the world to Washington and bringing Washington to the world.”